(Update: one of the jobs done by this shipyard was to convert the 1942 ore carrier Leon Fraser to the cement carrier Alpena in 1991.)
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| David Schauer posted A view of Fraser Shipyards in Superior on April 5, 1974, as the Armco is lengthened in dry dock while the Callaway waits for its turn. Other boats wintering at Fraser that year included the Olds, Lamont, Trimble, Dinkey, Miller and Hatfield. Basgen Photography |
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| David Schauer posted Just after the shipyard changed hands, a view of Fraser in early 1956. Of note is the bow-damaged B. F. Jones of the Wilson fleet. The Jones would be scrapped after its accident with the Callaway but according to the book "In the Yard" its boilers were reused at the new Superwood plant in Duluth (now Jeff Foster). Basgen Photography Al Miller: Interesting. I've never seen a photo of the Continental Grain elevator site as a coal dock. Michael Lackore: Looks like a couple of the tin stackers are getting their doghouses added a top the after deckhouses too. I think the Henry Phipps, Alva C. Dinkey and J.P. Morgan all got that addition. Rand Lally: Michael Lackore why did they add them? Michael Lackore: Rand Lally If I recall correctly, there was a regulation change that altered how long watchmen shifts could be. This change resulted in additional watchmen being needed aboard each boat. Since the quarters were so small on these older boats (at the time), and watchmen were licensed as AB seamen, they were assigned to the former unlicensed crew bunks, one per room. The unlicensed crew, AKA "dogs", deckhands, oilers, porters and wipers, were displaced by this so new bunks for them were added over the fantail...thus, the term "doghouse". |
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| Marine Historical Society of Detroit posted An aerial view of the Knudsen Brothers Ship Building Company in Superior, Wisconsin in 1947. Alex Clark photo - Wendell Wilke /MHSD collection. The shipyard became Fraser Shipyards in 1955. Kent Rengo shared Tim Smith: Very nice image! The building in the upper left was built as indoor coal storage in the late 1800’s and is now used for grain storage for the Viterra elevator (many previous names-Continental, Peavey, etc) that now occupies the coal dock area. Dan Ross: Check out the book "In the Yard history of Fraser shipyards" |
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment: "Fraser Shipyards in Superior during 1956. Note the Wilson boat with a smashed bow in dry dock. The north end of Superior has changed quite a bit since this image was made. Basgen Photography"
Jody Aho: The Wilson boat would be the B. F. Jones (1), damaged after her collision with the Cason J. Callaway on August 21, 1955. The Jones was declared a total loss.
Jacob Wickman: August Ziesing and George G Crawford at the frog pond. BF Jones and Bethlehem in drydock. William J Olcott, sister ship William B Dickson and another Pittsburg steamship boat docked behind the drydock. Also a few Knudson shipyard tugs ashore near the frog pond.
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| David Schauer posted An aerial view of Fraser Shipyards in Superior from April 11, 1959, showing a number of lakers, mostly Pittsburgh (U.S. Steel) and Wilson. Steam from stacks suggests a number are fitting-out for the season. Basgen Photography Greg Carlson: I wonder when the last time was there was 16 boats in Howard’s pocket? Bill Buss: That many ships still laid up in April. [Now the shipping season restarts in March.] Steven Haverty: Looks like they are scrapping two ships by the main facility, there is a canoe of a former laker right beside the smaller Wilson vessel being chopped, all her forward cabins are gone and they have started gutting the holds. Michael Lackore: Steven Haverty The more complete of these two vessels is the B.F. Jones. She'd been retired after colliding head-on with the Cason J. Callaway 4 years earlier. They removed her square shaped pilothouse (visible on the ground next to the building near her bow) as well as all of her one piece hatches and hatch crane for use on the Sparkman D. Foster. All of that stuff is stacked up next to her. The other vessel is the Robert L. Ireland. She was being scrapped after a bad, career ending grounding but then plans changed and she was converted to a floating drydock. Kent Rengo: Former Butler Brothers shipyard buildings and slips are to the right. |
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| Mark Olson posted I was going through a bunch of old folders - stuff from when my father passed away - found the photo of Frazer yards - photo back says "Drysdale-Perry Photo 1/23/80" Daniel Nied: Looks like Bethlehem Steel's freighter Sparrows Point (later Oglebay Norton's Buckeye and now Grand Rivers Navigation's barge Menominee) getting converted to a self-unloader, closest boat parallel to the bridge. Four boats from the top is her sister ship the Johnstown. She was never converted to a self-unloader and was scrapped in 1985. A third sister still exists, built as the Elton Hoyt 2nd for Interlake Steamship, she sails today as the Michipicoten for Lower Lakes Towing. The trio was built to help meet the demand for iron ore due to the Korean War at the Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point Shipyard in Maryland. The shipyards on the lakes were already at capacity building new ships and so the trio was built on saltwater and then towed up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to the lakes as the St. Lawrence Seaway as it exists now (i.e. big enough for these ships) wouldn't be opened until the end of the decade. |
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| Chris Mazzella posted Launching of the Edward Y Townsend at the Superior Shipbuilding Co (now Fraser Shipyards) on August 18, 1906. She is most known for being the sister ship to the ill fated Daniel J Morrell, which sank on November 29, 1966. The Townsend happened to being sailing in the same storm as her sister, once she made it to the Soo a large crack was discovered in her deck. She was deemed not worthy of repair and was sold so Spanish ship breakers. On her way to the breakers, she broke free from her tow line and sank on Oct 7, 1968. Andrew Severson: Don’t you mean Paul H. Townsend? Wheeler Walz: I’m no expert, but her wreck is roughly in the same area as the RMS Titanic. Definitely weird to think about, because I never think about Great Lakes freighters and White Star Line together. |
Al Miller posted two images with the comment: "A photo released by the Ford fleet showing the lengthening of William Clay Ford at Fraser Shipyards in 1979. The news release describing the photo is the second image. No photographer is mentioned but it has the hallmark of a Basgen photo."
Dave Wagner: Put all that into her and five years later they scraped her instead of putting a boom on her they bought two boats,and laid up the Henry so sad 😞
Steve Miller: What year did the Ford lay up and get scrapped? And they purchased two boats from Cleveland cliffs after that?
Alex Eff: Steve Miller hi Steve, the Clay was laid up at the end of 1984 and scrapped a few years later. Yes Ford (also using the name Rouge Steel at the time) purchased the Edward B. Greene and Walter A. Sterling from Cliffs. The Greene was named Benson Ford and the Sterling named William Clay Ford.
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment:
Bryan Howell The failure happened while doing shuttle runs on the Cuyahoga. Not a good place for that to happen!
I presume that Superior has just this one shipyard.
Given I-535 and the CHS grain elevator in the background, I think this is the dock that is being used for the unload. It does have a big laydown area next to the dock.
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| Fraser Shipyards Inc, Dec 2020 |
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| Al Miller posted Growth spurt -- The stern of the Cason J. Callaway (background) is pushed toward the vessel's newly built mid-section (foreground) waiting in the drydock at Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wis. The delicate process of cutting the steamer in half, inserting the 120-foot mid-section, and joining the three sections took place in April and May 1974. The Callaway, lengthened to 767 feet, departed the shipyard on May 29, 1974. This photo was shot by Basgen Photography. [In 1981-82, this and two other boats were converted to self-unloaders.] |
I presume this is the only big shipyard that Superior has had.
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| Greg Mross posted There's a lot to like in this shot of the Benson Ford (1924-1986) going into dry dock in Superior, WI in August of 1964. Ann Arbor #7 is on the right getting an a major refit. She would emerge as the Viking. The Manitowoc cranes are neat as well....... John Ingles Kodachrome from my collection. |
I recently saw mention of this shipyard because it recently restored the Aurther M Anderson to service. It also lengthened that ship by 120' to 767' in 1975 and converted it to self-unloading during the 1981/82 winter layup. They prefabricated sections before the layup so that they could get it converted during the layup.
Arthur M. Anderson was converted to a self-unloader during the 1981/82 winter lay up at the Fraser Shipyard, Superior, WI, arriving there Nov. 1, 1981. Prior to the Anderson arriving, the yard workers had built 23 sections of hopper bottom that would make up the inside of the holds. These sections were each prefabricated with the electrical wiring, piping and the conveyor structure in place. Then, with the vessel in drydock, the bottoms of the holds were removed. Each prefabricated section was carefully lowered through the appropriate hatch, aligned and welded together to form the continuous hopper bottom. The sides of the holds were sloped to allow for the gravity feeding of the cargo through 74 hydraulically controlled gates to a single 78-inch wide continuous loop conveyor belt running the cargo below the holds to the stern of the vessel. The cargo was then lifted by a loop-belt elevator system up to the deck and on to a 250 foot long unloading boom installed just forward of the aft deckhouse. This self-unloading system could unload the Anderson at a rate of up to 6,000 tons per hour. Her new configuration included increasing the number of holds from three to five and reducing the number of hatches from 24 to 23 (4-5-5-5-4 configuration), her capacity dropping from 26,525 tons to 25,300 tons. On April 29, 1982, the Anderson left the Fraser yard and moved across the harbor to the chutes of the DMIR Railway ore docks to test her new equipment and load her first cargo of taconite pellets carried as a self-unloader. [BoatNerd]
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| David Schauer posted Here is an aerial view of Fraser Shipyards in Superior. The large dry dock on the left has the Madeline Island (La Pointe) and Miller (Market) ferries in it while the small dock has a barge they are building (with the help of that large crane). 10/2021 Rick Leistico: And lovely “Miss Ryerson” in the background. Gary Stromquist: What's your telephoto lens? David Schauer: Gary Stromquist I use a 28-300 and a 150-600. |
Steve Vanden Bosch posted two photos with the comment: "This is a photo of the A D Thomson in what appears to be exiting the Shipyard fresh and new in 1891. This photo is from the University of Wisconsin Madison Great Lakes Maritime History Collection."
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| David Schauer posted Flashback Friday showing the Philip R. Clarke at Fraser Shipyards for lengthening. This view shows the wood blocks that are placed on the floor of the dock in a pattern specific to the ship being brought in. The dock is then closed off and water pumped in with the boat following once full. The dock is then sealed off and the water is pumped out and the boat settles on the blocks. This is how the Lee A is sitting in today's images. Superior, WI - October 21, 1974 [It just occurred to me that they would have to tie down all of those wood blocks so that they don't float while the ship is being brought in to the flooded dock.] |
In 2019 they refurbished the ship that houses the William A Irvin Museum.
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| This photo has been moved to "Duluth, MN: William A. Irvin Museum." |
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| Ben Stalvey posted Manitowoc 14000 at Fraser Shipyard |
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| David Schauer posted Fleetmates at one time, the William A. Irvin on the blocks as the Cason J. Callaway has belt work done at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. Members of the once-mighty Pittsburgh Steamship Company. 8/21/19 |
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| This photo has been moved to "Duluth, MN: William A. Irvin Museum." |
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| This photo has been moved to "Duluth, MN: William A. Irvin Museum." |
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| David Schauer posted No date on this medium format transparency, but I'm guessing mid-1970s. Note the Ryerson in the large dry dock. Fraser Shipyards - Superior. Basgen Photography Jim Luke Looks like Ashland, McKee Sons, Ryerson, J.R. Sensibar, James A. Farrell and another USS 600 footer like the Williams. Chuck Deye I’m going to guess 1975. In the top left you can see what is now MERC is under construction. They opened in 1976. Neil Huss I’ve only lived here in the area for a year or so, can anyone tell me when the rail bridge behind the interstate was removed? Awesome photo! David Schauer Neil Huss Last trains over the MN and WI swing bridges was in 1983. Removed the following year or 1985. Brian Bernard Parts of the old Butler Shipyard still visible next to the Ashland. Brian Bernard A small drydock is setup and a mid-body is under-construction. To the left, hatch-covers are being fabricated. Perhaps this is for the Arthur B. Homer lengthening that took place between September-November 1975. Jody Aho There's also a boat loading at DM&IR E of #5. David Schauer I think it might be a Ford boat on the original transparency (cropped a bit here). Gary Putney Looks like the slip above and left of the Ryerson on the outer end is the Fraser yacht. |
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment:
Herbert C. Jackson on the blocks at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, reportedly undergoing work on her stern thruster. The Jackson is one of few active [older] lakers on the U.S. side that has retained its original hull length. 11/15/19James Torgeson Which makes it easier for her to get to the ADM Standard Elevator, which is a ways up the Buffalo River.
Bryan Howell The failure happened while doing shuttle runs on the Cuyahoga. Not a good place for that to happen!
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| David Schauer posted (source) It is hard to pass up a well lit shot of the Ryerson. Fraser Shipyards, Superior. 11/24/19 Steve Nelson What are they doing with it. Bryan Howell Nothing. Temporarily moved so the EPA could take soil samples underneath her normal berth. Mike Lee I read somewhere that it will be going back into service. I hope that's true. |
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| Michael Konczak posted Arthur M. Anderson in dry dock at Fraser Shipyards with the William A. Irvin on the right. Photo by Michael Konczak, May 2019. Theresa Kautz: Happy Days! Getting her ready to return to service after many years in long term layup! |
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| Al Miller posted Thomas W. Lamont motors out of the Duluth ship canal on May 6, 1965, to start her trial run with a new Nordberg diesel engine. This is a photo from Fraser Shipyards, which installed the new engine. The Lamont was built in Toledo in 1930. She was laid up in Duluth at the beginning of the 1980s and towed for scrap in 1987. |
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| Ryan Mihalak shared a post by Greg Mross The Fitz, Enders Voorhees, and Irving Olds at Fraser Shipyards for winter layup in December of 1964. John Ingles Kodachrome from my collection. Travis Taylor: Look at the stern size difference between the fitz and Forhees! Crazy Greg Mross: Travis Taylor The Fitz was as big as they got back in 1964.... Dalton Bradford: As the big freighters go she was bigger than most… Dennis DeBruler: This gives us a feel for how much ballast a ship has to carry when it is empty to keep its propeller and rudder in the water. |
Michael Konczak posted two photos with the comment: "Cason J. Callaway at Fraser Shipyard getting new paint, before and after in January and March, 1990. Photos by Michael Konczak."
[Note the grain elevators in the background.]
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David Schauer posted two photos with the comment: "A toasty day here in the Twin Ports but at least the relative humidity is not tropical. A view of busy Fraser Shipyards with a new ferry being built for someplace in Canada (small drydock), plus the ferry Bayfield and Army Corp derrick barge Schwartz and tug Billmaier receiving attention in the large dry dock. Big dogs Presque Isle and Block in the distance. 6/20/2022"
Nathan Leindecker: Oh no, hopefully this ferry goes better than the last one.
David Schauer: Nathan Leindecker I'm really curious what went sideways with the Mary Ann Market. She appeared to be moving fine during sea trials.
Scott Best: David Schauer They had her down to the Frames in the floating DD at Bay over the winter, main frames were not aligned, shaft was all messed up, from what I heard they pretty much had to go through everything once they began finding major issues...
Matthew Yukich: Where's the Ryerson? I thought it was in dry dock.
Jody Aho: Matthew Yukich The Ryerson is about as far up in the slip as you can go, to the right and slightly behind the vantage point of this photo.
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| David Schauer posted With an engine down and no stern thrusters on the Presque Isle, tug Edward H had its work cut out for it helping the footer into the tight confines of Howards Pocket (Fraser Shipyards). You can still see where the streetcar tracks were in the Lamborn Avenue causeway. Superior - June 17, 2022 |
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| David Schauer posted Another slide from the Basgen files. No date on the mount but based on Lapinski's book, I'm guessing this is fall 1975 and Bethlehem's Arthur B. Homer is getting a new 96-ft mid-section installed. Sadly, this sister ship to the Fitzgerald would only sail another 5 years. The timing of this shot is also right around the time the Fitz sank. Basgen Photography James Torgeson shared In this 1975 view, we see Bethlehem’s former fleet flagship, the Arthur B. Homer, being lengthened from 730’ to 826’. She was a near twin to the Edmund Fitzgerald. |
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| David Schauer posted A 120-foot extension being constructed at Fraser Shipyards (Superior) in early 1974. The Callaway would be shifted into drydock in March of that year to have the extension added. I like the neat looking Robert M. Fraser yacht on the right. Basgen Photography James Jorgeson shared In this 1974 view at Fraser Shipyards, US Steel's 647' Cason J. Callaway (built 1952) awaits her new 120' midsection, which is being constructed in the foreground. She would be converted to a self-unloader at the same yard in 1982, and is still active today for Canadian National Railway. |
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| Comments on David's share |
I presume that Superior has just this one shipyard.
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| Greg Mross posted A multi-interest post. Ann Arbor carferry No.7 underwent a major re-fit in Superior, WI over the winter of 1964/65. The boat would re-emerge as the Viking. One of the major modifications was to repower the boat with four 16 cylinder EMD 567 diesels that usually went in locomotives. Here we see the crews about to lift one of the engines from the flatcar it was delivered on into the engine bay of the carferry. John Ingles Kodachrome from my collection. Steve Horton: My Ann Arbor reference material is currently on loan, but I think the railroad eventually modified the 567's in both the boat and the GP-35's with 645 power packs. A poor mans 645 so to speak. Mel Wilson: Yes, they upgraded them with 645 power assemblies. Andrew Keeney shared Dan Eff: The 567 also powered the LST of WWII. |
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| Greg Mross posted The Benson Ford in drydock at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, WI. August of 1964. John Ingles Kodachrome from my collection. |
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| Trever Ross commented on Greg's post It’s a house on south bass island. [Found it.] |
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| Trever Ross commented on Greg's post |
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| Greg Mross posted Ann Arbor No. 7 is primed and awaiting new paint at the Fraser Shipyard in Superior in November of 1964. She would re-emerge as the Viking after a major re-fit. I believe the crane is dropping one of the diesel engines into the engine room as part of the re-powering. John Ingles Kodachrome from my collection. [Ann Arbor #7 used to dock in Elberta, MI.] |
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| Marine Historical Society of Detroit posted Ann Arbor No. 7 at Fraser Shipyard in Superior, WI in late 1964. Over the 1964-1965 winter, the vessel was rebuilt. The upper decks were lifted 42 inches to allow taller rail cars to be transported, and the vessel was converted from steam to diesel-electric propulsion. It was renamed Viking when it returned to service. Hal Jackson photo/MHSD collection. Darrell Sherrod: C&O's Badger also had her upper decks "lifted," but have any detailed descriptions or photos ever been published to explain exactly how this procedure was accomplished? Where and how were the necessary cuts made, and how exactly does a 400-ft vessel's upper decks get vertically supported and elevated as a single piece? Richard Jenkins: Darrell Sherrod you can see the work in progress in this view, she has been cut horizontally just above the car deck level, and the blocking holding up the upper works is visible in the gap. Once everything is jacked up and blocked in place, new frame sections and side plating are welded in to fill the gap. Shawn Keith: Darrell if you look closely at the Badger you can still see where she was cut horizontally, not far above the rail deck. It is especially noticeable at the bow, where there is a short section that is completely vertical, not following the rake of her bow plates before the cut was made. I don't think she was lifted as far as the No. 7/Viking though. Marine Historical Society of Detroit shared |
Mark W. Barker carrying steel rods from Monroe, MI
Gerdau Steel has a mill in Monroe, MI, that makes steel rods and a mill in Duluth, MN, that turns steel rods into grinding balls for the nearby taconite industry. I presume that the steel will be barged to the ball mill as needed. This freighter was loaded at
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| David Schauer updated Good afternoon on a beautiful day here in Duluth. Our weekly banner change goes to Adam Bjornberg who snapped this fine blue hour view of the Mark W. Barker unloading steel bars at Fraser Shipyards this morning, an unusual cargo and off-load site to say the least. Thanks Adam and all other who have contributed this week! |
Given I-535 and the CHS grain elevator in the background, I think this is the dock that is being used for the unload. It does have a big laydown area next to the dock.
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I wondered why the General Cargo Docks wasn't used for the unload. After all, it is just around the corner from the mill on Rice's Point. First of all, I presume rental of a storage yard is cheaper because Fraser doesn't currently have a freighter to repair there. And secondly of all, using a barge would avoid the cost of trucking the rods around St. Louis Bay.
This view is in the opposite direction of Adam's photo with the Gavilon Grain Elevator in the background.
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| David Schauer posted A nice pre-sunrise color display this morning as the Mark W. Barker continued its off-load of steel bars at Fraser for Gerdau Steel. The rods are typically melted down and formed into steel balls for use in grinding hard rock in taconite plants. This is the second shipment of bars here, the first being from Monroe to the pipeline dock by the Paul R. Tregurtha (likely more rare than the Barker, which is designed for multi-type cargos). 10/30/2020 Isaac Pennock: Barker’s cargo about ten times as large as the Tregurtha’s very small load. David Schauer: Isaac Pennock Correct. The Paul R. Tregurtha was done very quick (400 tons?) Isaac Pennock: David Schauer ~4000 tons this time. |
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| Paul Scinocca Photography posted GL Ostrander / Integrity arriving Fraser Shipyard Drydock this Tuesday November 15. Coming into the dock along with a snow squall and with the Heritage Marine Tug Helen H riding "shotgun". They arrived Duluth Nov 13 @ 07:05 for Holcim with cement powder from Alpena, MI. After discharging they sailed to the Fraser drydock for their 5 year inspection. Paul Scinocca Photography shared |
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| David Schauer posted A view of Fraser Shipyards in Superior as the Ostrander/Integrity eases into the dry (wet) dock while the Ryerson remains in long term layup. In the distance on the left is the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader unloading stone at Graymont. 11/15/2022 |
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| David Schauer posted Workers at Fraser Shipyards in Superior are putting the finishing touches on the cement carrier Ostrander/Integrity. The tug/barge combo is expected to depart soon, possibly this weekend. I'm not sure what, if anything, is scheduled to take her place in the dry dock over winter layup. 12/30/2022 |
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| David Schauer posted Tug G.L. Ostrander and its barge Integrity ease out of the dry dock at Fraser Shipyards in Superior with help from Helen H and Wren I (aka Fraser II). 1/1/2023 Terri Zee: Great photo. I really like these tug/barge combinations. The G.L. Ostrander tug looks like one of the longer tugs of the tug/barge combo's. Especially when you compare it to the VanEnkevort tugs. Thanks for sharing this. |
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| Noah Heller posted Ostrander/Integrity leaving Duluth for Alpena [It is probably going to get a load of cement at the Alpena cement plant.] |
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| David Schauer posted American Mariner at Fraser Shipyards in Superior as water is drained from the dry dock. 1/10/2023 |
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| David Schauer posted A surprise visitor to Fraser Shipyards today was the John J. Boland arriving and entering dry dock No. 2. Edward L. Ryerson looks on in the distance. The Boland had been reporting its ballast water stability to the USCG on an hourly basis so that might give a clue as to its delay at Fraser. Superior, WI - April 28, 2023 |
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| Comments on David's post [I learned a new euphemism: "ballast water stability." That ranks right up there with "energetic felling" for "blowing it up."] |
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| David Schauer posted The John J. Boland in dry dock at Fraser Shipyards. Superior, WI - April 29, 2023 Rick Pearson: David. Can Fraser accommodate 1000ft plus? David Schauer: Rick Pearson Nope, this dry dock is only 800' long. Andrew Koetz: Rick Pearson pending the repairs on footers; i.e. bow or stern; the shipyard will have the crew isolate the ballast tanks and fill the tanks at one end of the boat lifting the end that requires repairs. Rick Pearson: Andrew Koetz so, that’s how it’s done. Now we know. Just can’t say sorry, you’ll have to head back across the Lake. Thnx Andrew Koetz: Rick Pearson Once in a while you will see a footer (or shorter bulker) doing this procedure. IIRC David Schauer has some shots of a few of the footers doing this procedure. I remember watching a Canadian documentary on "Big Paul" when she was at Sturgeon Bay for winter layup. She got some damage from the lake ice in several of her bow frames at the start of the shipping season. She ran to Superior after the skipper consulted with the home office and the USCG. To keep the damage to a minimum, they had the crew rotate I believe to keep tabs on the hole in the side of the bow and they drained the water from the ballast tanks forward so her bow would ride higher in the water. Rick Hadley: Didn’t the Boland come in with reports of water ballast problems? I’d suspect a bad seal at the best, but more likely a holed hull. David Schauer: Rick Hadley That's the general consensus. Judy Barnes-DePeal shared |
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| Chris Mazzella posted Fraser Shipyards this afternoon: Edward L Ryerson awaiting a decision on her future, John J Boland in drydock for repairs and a new ferry being built in the smaller drydock. [A comment confirms that the Boland is in drydock because of a hole in the hull.] Isaac Pennock: Ferry is for the Beausoleil First Nation in Ontario. Matt Schwantes: Hope the hell they do a better job on this ferry then they did on the last one! Pour design, cost owners a fortune to have it rebuilt. Steve Horton: Press release about the ferry can be seen here: https://frasershipyards.com/new-ferry-being-built-for-christian-island-ontario/ [The ferry will provide service to Christian Island.] |
How many shipyards did this town have? Would this have been here?
Chris Mazzella posted two photos with the comment: "Herbert C Jackson undergoing stern thruster repairs at Fraser Shipyards."
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| Association for Great Lakes Maritime History posted The Ford Motor Co. ship William Clay Ford being modified at a shipyard in Superior, Wis. in 1979 (The Henry Ford - Photographic Vertical File Series). The photograph was taken after the ship was cut in two and the stern section floated out to allow the movement in of the new mid-section. [The description continues with more history of the freighter.] |
Chris Mazzella posted two photos with the comment: "Herbert C Jackson undergoing stern thruster repairs at Fraser Shipyards."
Steven Todd Jr.: By far my favorite boat. Just curious. Was this freighter built with bow and stern thrusters back in 1959 or were those added somewhere down the line ??
Chris Mazzella: Bow thruster 1988, stern 1998.
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| David Schauer posted Steamer Arthur M. Anderson riding high for some work at Fraser Shipyards. Superior, WI - September 17, 2023 |
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| Comments on David's post |
The old freighters do attract the shipfans.
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| Michael Konczak posted Arthur M. Anderson and Edward L. Ryerson at Fraser Shipyards, 9.17.23 Photo by Michael Konczak [The east side of the CHS grain elevator is in the background.] |
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| Andy Deegan posted Lee A. Tregurtha in drydock at Fraser Shipyards, Superior, WI. |
Winter layup 2024:
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| Scott's Canal Captures posted Great Lakes Towing vessel North Carolina (1952) breaks ice as Paul R. Tregurtha (1981) enters Howard's Pocket in Superior for the first time last week. Very few 1000-footers have docked at Fraser before, most recent visitors being Stewart J. Cort (1972) and Presque Isle (1973). With recent dredging and the shipyard's hope for more business, maybe more 1000-footers will be worked on here (January 18th, 2024). [It is going under the southern approach to the Blatnik Bridge.] |
Another view of the Paul R. Tregurtha going to the shipyard.
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| David Schauer posted Paul R. Tregurtha easing under the Blatnik Bridge's Wisconsin approach headed to Fraser Shipyards for winter work. I believe this is the first ever visit to Fraser by the Tregurtha/DeLancey. Note: this bridge was completed in 1961, over 10 years before the first wide-beam 1,000-footers entered service. Superior, WI - January 18, 2024 Avery Flanum: My dad is on there as the relief cook! They had to cut the mast to be able to fit underneath the bridge. Visited him last weekend. What a beautiful boat! Glenn Blaszkiewicz: Makes me wonder if the new replacement bridge will be built with more clearance in mind. Tegan Griffith: Glenn Blaszkiewicz https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/blatnik-bridge/ Nick Shapiro: Biden was just there a few days ago to announce the final award of over $1 billion of federal funds from his 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build the new bridge. That’s construction funding, not just money for planning. John Clark: Glenn Blaszkiewicz I was thinking there are other yards that could do the winter repairs/layup without the drama. Kelly Thornton: John Clark In the past I believe it came up here to Sturgeon Bay along with several others. Don Sorenson: John Clark not drama they go through the Soo all the time it’s a tighter fit. [There were 657 comments. I looked at just a few of therm.] Ronald Baker shared |
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| Interlake Steamship Company posted Our lovely M/V Lee A. Tregurtha getting a lil' refresh in the Twin Ports with a new coat of signature Interlake Deck Red (made by fellow Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams) at Fraser Shipyards! 📸: Schauer Photo Images |
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| David Schauer posted A panoramic view of Fraser Shipyards and the lay-up fleet (left to right: Ryerson, Paul R. Tregurtha, Manitoulin, Lee A. Tregurtha and Arthur M. Anderson). Superior, WI - February 10, 2024 Becky Haag: Wow. February and there's not much hard water. There's more ice on Lake Pepin, which is just a wide spot on the Mississippi, than in the harbor in Duluth. Noel R Donelon: The Lee has a forward bridge. PRT stern? Jon Kindschi: Noel R Donelon correct. |
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| safe_image for FRASER INDUSTRIES SECURES BOND FINANCING, FORGES AHEAD WITH HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN MARITIME INDUSTRY AND WORKFORCE Exciting news coming from Fraser Industries! Read the full article at: https://lakeassault.com/fraser-industries-secures-bond.../ Jon Green: Congratulations Fraser! What is the amount of this funding, and what will be the division between the locations? Zach Harris: I know they wanted to build a 1000ft dry dock is there still any talk of that? |
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| LakeAssault [The article had remarkably little information, but it did have a nice historical photo. But then I saw that David has already posted it.] |
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment: "All tucked away at the dry (graving) dock at Fraser Shipyards this morning as workers dewater the dock so the Michipicoten can be inspected. Superior, WI - June 21, 2024"
David Watt: Well, the divers did a preliminary inspection. To replace her, it would probably cost almost a billion, maybe even more. I'd bet once they sand blast her damage, and design a repair plan, She will be back in service by mid July, maybe even sooner. Many ships built during her time are still working. With the new welding techniques, the fixed area will be the best part of the ship. Heck, they might even spend a little more on upgrades.
Robert B Ritchie: David Watt The Algoma Equinox class run about $85,000,000.00. Plus...
It will be a tough decision.
Janey Anderson shared with the comment:
Henry McGowan: The COAST GUARD will have the final say on whether it gets to go back out on the lakes , but the insurance company may not insure it now.
Michipicoten - safe and sound at Fraser Shipyards/Superior.
Thanks so much David Schauer!❤️
June 21, 2024
Henry McGowan: The COAST GUARD will have the final say on whether it gets to go back out on the lakes , but the insurance company may not insure it now.
Kyran Clune: The underwriters will have the last word ,
Connie Egan Dompier: So this is a dry dock. In parentheses you have written graving. Exactly what does this mean, please?
Matthew Carlson: Connie Egan Dompier graving dock is the name of type of drydock, where the water is pumped out. There’s also what’s called floating dry docks that are basically like a big barge that sinks, the boat goes on them and then the water is pumped out from the ballast tanks to float it.
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| 2 [Note the water discharge from the pumps into the river. And you can already see the top of the prop between the stern and the rudder.] |
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| Erik Pederson commented on David's post |
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment: "A before and after image of the Michipicoten at Fraser Shipyards today as the water was drained from the dock. I didn't see any obvious signs of a weld - if one could be seen - on the starboard side, but I also didn't fly close out of respect for those working around the vessel. Superior, WI - June 21, 2024"
Tim Fink: How long did it take to drain the water??
David Schauer: Tim Fink I don't know when they started, but probably around 3 this morning and I was there after 1. Maybe 8-10 hours?
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| Rob Culver commented on David's post Well I’m obviously here as a boat nerd, in real life I’m a civil engineer with a background in geotechnical construction. The dry dock is having a wall failure, they tried to throw some tiebacks and walers in but it still appears to be failing. At least fill in the depression in the dirt so the water doesn’t settle there and exacerbate the problem. There, ok, now I can sleep. 😳 |
So three of the classic ships with the pilothouse on the bow seem to be having problems in Jun 2024.
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| David Schauer posted I was tied up this morning and missed the Munson arriving, but it framed up nicely with the Michipicoten and Ryerson at Fraser Shipyards. I'm not sure what the Munson is having done at the yard. Superior, WI - June 21, 2024 Erik Pederson: I hauled a few thousand gallons of sludge oil out of her today. You can see my tanker truck at the stern of the Munson |
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| David Schauer posted BNSF Job 113 snakes around Fraser Shipyards with grain empties from CHS. On the right is the Michipicoten and on the left is fleetmate Robert S. Pierson, in for replacement of its rudder. Superior, WI - October 22, 2024 |
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| David Schauer posted Robert S. Pierson eases into the drydock at Fraser Shipyards as fleetmate Michipicoten remains inactive (no new status updates on her). In the distance is the Ryerson. Missouri is visible on the right while the North Carolina handled a stern line. Superior, WI - October 22, 2024 |
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